Semester Final Images

Set 1-Bike Hub

For each set, the abstract image always has a close-up perspective. I felt that by having one close up and one farther away, it could have a better story. Here, the lighting on the necklace makes it look as if it is just an everyday object. The contrast of the light is basically what jewelry ads look. Advertisers try to make what they’re selling as appealing as possible and I think that having the lighting the way it is makes these bike hubs appealing as well. The perspective of the close-up image is interesting as well because the viewer may be quite confused as to what it actually is and that is what I was going for. The concept in these images was to make this bike part seem out of place, but meant to be there at the same time. These pieces could be a necklace but once the viewer knows what they are it seems quite strange. Putting these images together, I just pointed the light on the subject as if I were creating an ad. I sat in a dark room and pointed a single light at the chest for both. I zoomed in for the closer up one. My motivations were jewelry ads as I said before. I thought it fit quite well.

Set 2-Bike Wheels

My framing for these two images were decided because of the views I could get in the bathroom I was in. It was pretty small. I wanted to get both wheels in the shot but then the bathtub would be awkward looking. It was tough getting exactly what I wanted. The light was also tough because the one light I had was quite dull. For the close-up image I did turn on the flash. I wanted to catch the water in motion and I found it worked better with the flash on. The concept in this image again is just having this strange item in a place it would not normally be. This could be depicted as a scene from a story. The wheel is living a human life, taking a bath/shower. The process when creating this image was pretty simple. I tied wire around the wheel connecting it to the showerhead so it was hanging creating a geometrical abstraction look. When thinking about our final project, this was one of the first ideas that popped into my head. I experimented with the water on and off but decided the water effect worked really well with my image.

Set 3- Break Pads

Having emphasis on the break pads in these images was really important. Since there was so much going on in the fridge, the break pads needed to stick out to be the first thing viewers looked at. I tried to brighten just the break pads to bring them out a bit more then the rest of the space in the background. The concept behind these images had to do with fact that the break pads looked very robotic looking whereas everything in the fridge is more organic. I thought putting these in the fridge worked well with the concept of my entire project. My goal for these two images was to create one image that would confuse the viewers as what and where it actually was, and the other to show a distinct difference between the two medias in the fridge.

Set 4-Gears

The framing for these images had to do with taking one showing where these gears actually were, and the other taking an abstraction of where it actually was. To create this I had a light overhead. I experimented using the flash for these as well but it made too much of a shadow and distracted the eye from looking at the gears. As all the others, my motivation was to put these pieces in an environment where they would not normally be. It is kind of funny in a way though that these gears could represent plates because of they’re shaped.

Set 5-Spokes

The composition of these two were hard to create. I had to get the right balance on each side of the picture frame, and the lighting was not the way I wish it could have been. There is too much of a shadow on the one side which I tried to get rid of but did not work out. The close up one is better I think because it does show an abstract view and the shadows on that one works. It is very questionable as to what it really is and that is exactly what I wanted. It was hard creating the lighting because the one light that I had was too bright. It was confusing too though because there are two lights, one on each side, but for some reason the one on the right side was brighter or on a different angle creating the dark shadow.

Blog 25

Write a detailed description of your “motivations” for your final self-proposed project. Why are you interested in this subject? What do you want to convey? How do you want viewers to respond? Why are you inspired to make these images/this project? Do you want to evoke emotions in viewers? Shock viewers? Make them laugh? Make them think? Inform them? Reveal something about how you see the world? Reveal something about yourself, a person, a place, a feeling, a memory, a moment in time? 

My motivation for my project is my dad. He owns his own bicycle shop and sells many different types of bikes. I worked there when I was younger ringing up the cash register or putting inventory on shelves. His shop has been a big part of my life. For my final project I wanted to show in an abstract way different parts of bikes. I didn't really know how to display these parts without them looking plain. The idea of placing the parts in places where they are not normally found can show how nothing in my mind needs to be perfect or in the right place. What I would like to do is be able to show my family and have them be able to appreciate the photos. I don't want them to be normal. I want them to look at them and think they're interesting and not how someone would normally see bike parts.

Assignment 6-part 1

Assignment 5-Part 2

Christmas Tree

The interpretation of this image was a man putting up Christmas lights or waiting to put up Christmas lights. Others thought it was just a man standing next to tree. The way he is posing does make it seem like he is very disinterested in the situation. There really wasn’t much I could do because of the fact that he wasn’t very into modeling. They thought the image worked really well. One thing they said they might want to see was the flash off to see if the lights on the tree would be brought out more. By having the flash on, the lights get drowned out and don’t really seem like they’re on. They also the way the light hit his back. It defines some parts, which adds depth to the picture. An extension for this image I thought could be a to place half naked men next important monuments or buildings and see what viewers reactions would be.

Looking for Love: Comic Strip

When first looking at these images my group said it was kind of confusing. The way I placed each image did not work well. They did interpret it as a story and that the girl was looking for the guy. Some things that could have worked better was the lighting and exposure. The actual lighting when I was taking the picture was very dark so trying to work with it in Camera Raw was a little difficult. I also wish the images were more clear. It was hard taking the pictures because it was so cold out and I didn’t have my tripod. I must have been shaking a lot. This set is already an extension. I wish I could retake them and make each scene more clear and thought out.

Different Identities

The interpretation of this image was pretty simple. It was one person taking different identities. It could have been showing how one person can look so different and take many different roles like actors/actresses’ do. One thing they did not like about this set was the fact that the middle one was brighter then the rest. I accidentally did while I was messing around with Camera Raw. I meant to change it back but didn’t. It draws your eye to the center and doesn’t let the viewer look at the other images. They liked the way it was put together. It worked well side by side. This also is sort of an extension already. If I were to go farther, I would dress the subject up it more dramatic clothing and costumes to extend to other identities.

Blog 24

A. Pick two images from any of the “constructed reality” photographers presented in class or linked on the assignment sheet. Describe how you could recreate these two images on a “smaller scale”.

B. Describe your plans for your self-proposed final project (if the plan is the same as before, paste it here again and give a bit more detail). During the final critique for Assignment #5, you will discuss/present these ideas to the class.

Assingnment 5

Christmas Tree

The framing of this photograph was determined by another picture. There are certain cards that are supposed to be humorous by showing nudity. I tried to show that this person was in a normal setting and show that he was a distraction to the rest of the photograph. The contrast between the back of the guy and the dark tree creates a good break in the picture and lets your eyes wonder throughout the image. When looking at the image the concept could be about a guy being a “present” under the tree or could show him waiting for someone to find him by the tree. I wanted to portray a card like that. He’s standing against the blind almost looking like he’s waiting. To create this image I tried to make the background look home like and show the guy looking out of place. I think I portrayed that very well. I had the light almost look like a snapshot. The way the light hits his back shows he the main subject in the image.

Looking for Love: Comic strip

The lighting in this image was not how I really wanted it to be. It was getting dark but I when I used the flash it look weird also. I tried messing with the brightness and exposure in Camera Raw. I think I could work with it a bit more. I wanted to make this series of images look as if the girl is looking for a way to get to her lover up on the wall but when she finally gets there he turns to stone. To create this image I went around Grand Rapids and tried to find a good background to tell this story. There were no lights around so it was tough getting the right shot. My goal was to capture the emotion of the girl trying to get to this person. I wish I was able to get closer to her, but there was just not enough to be able to capture a good image. Relating this to other artists, it would go with either storybooks or comic strips. Telling a story is not easy but artists that create images for books are very skilled.

Different Identities

The framing of these three images were determined because of the weird lighting that I had in the entire frame. Each one is cropped just around her body. The actual image has an entire white background but the light creates stripping across the photo. I tried to reduce the problem but I think I could do more. These images are about representing different identities that one person can take on. I wanted the background to be plain so that the identity she was taking on was what the viewer would look at the most. To create this image I used a bright light shining right in front straight onto a white background. I experimented where the light should be placed and since I only had one light in front was the best since I couldn’t block out shadows well. These images I think can relate to ad style photos. The scuba could be for an aquarium ad and I definitely think the winter wear could be a commercial ad for something.

Assignment 4-Part 2

Birthday Snapshot

Others interpreted this at a perfect snapshot. They said if anything else was in the image it would be a bad picture. The way he’s holding his jacket makes a good shape in the image and makes it somewhere for the eye to be drawn to. The way the person is standing also fits the actual actor in the movie. Basically everything is working in this picture according to my group. This could definitely be a starting off point for other pictures in the movie and mocking other movies as well.

Under Armour Ad

Everyone interpreted the image as I wanted, an ad for Under Armour. It has good lighting, but could be better. They thought if I put a brighter light on the right side the shadow would disappear. The shadow is kind of what I was going for, but I could experiment with it and see how I could change it a little bit. One comment they said was about the fact that anyone can where a shirt but this image shows something different ad they thought it was composed very well. A jumping off point for this could be a series of different ads for mens’ clothing. I could work with different types of clothing, crazy and proper.

Passport Photo

They knew that this picture was a passport photo but said it was strange. I did have to explain to them that it was mocking passport pictures. They said I should fix the lighting. When shooting this photo I didn’t really use any particular kind of lighting. I thought the natural light was ok I tried to brighten it up on screen but it printed darker then I wanted. They also said she might want to wear another shirt because you can’t really tell the separation of her hair and the shirt. I definitely agree with that. A jumping off point for this picture might be put her in a bunch of different backgrounds doing the same face and see if the face changes effect with each background.

Credit Card

This way the angle is looks like it was slid across a surface as to be paying for something. It may be too blurred in the middle, but I think it works with the ebay effect that I’m portraying. Pictures on ebay are not professional and could be shot in any way. A jumping off point for this photo could be other cards with the focus in the middle. I like the fact that it’s blurred and when other cards would in the photos too or have a set of them together, I think it would work.